Good to know - thanks! Really liking the Kiowa, going to be my go-to helicopter for awhile, and I have them all.
Edit: Just got done with a few more long flights in this - beautiful handling and agility for its heft and size - you can ‘feel’ why it made such a great scouting and targeting helo. Definitely a cut up from Taog’s wonderful Huey for me.
Hi all
A pet thing with me is ATC.
Here is a fix to make the ATC correctly identify the helicopter so under GENERAL in aircraft.cfg paste this after you have backed up the original.
atc_type = “$$:Helicopter”
atc_model = “$$:Kiowa 58D”
category = “Helicopter”
performance =
editable = 0
wip_indicator = 1
icao_type_designator = “58D”
icao_manufacturer = “$$:Bell”
icao_model = “58D”
icao_engine_type = “Piston”
icao_engine_count = 1
icao_wtc = “L”
Is anyone else having to use alot of left rotor to fly straight? I can understand when your flying slow or in a hover …But flying at 90 mph and having to use the left rotor pedal the whole time?
The only way to fly straight at speed is to lean the heli to the left or hold the left rotor. I have the DCS kiowa and it doesnt fly like that…Is there a force trim button we can assign?
Hi you can assign longitudinal and lateral rotor trim found in control settings.
This is an overall issue with the way the current FM in MSFS handles the drag and effect of more detailed fuselage elements. More specifically the vertical and horizontal stabilizers on helicopters. Every helicopter in MSFS right now has a trade off on how this is working at cruise. This should be improved in 2024.
I’m on the fence with this one. I have more of an affinity for civil helicopters and I already have Polychops’s excellent DCS version. I am curious to see how this one flys though.
Helicopters are hard to simulate. The Kiowa for DCS, while sublime, also has its issues to be fixed. Like the fact that it hovers right skid low at the moment.
I also own all of the modules in DCS. However, flying within the MSFS World is really what I want to do with those modules. You’re lucky to healthy and be able to turn your head without consequences. As a result, I can no longer fight an aircraft effectively. So for me… buying military addons to just enjoy the World (simulated) is my consolation.
This addon is a wonderful addition to accomplish that mission - albeit the liveries don’t seem to work and appear broken in multiplayer.
here would be my first impression + test flight video in german language -
Cheers
I find the msfs version of the 58d is a little bit harder to fly. It is a bit more faster at reacting on inputs and therefore not so “stable”. But on the other side you can make corrections much faster.
If this is more realistic then the dcs version or less - I just cant judge, because I am not a pilot.
But I think the OH58D is one of the better MSFS Helicopters, even with some flaws, that it still has (rotor blade animation, no idle release, no key, no rpm governor).
Cheers
I appreciate the feedback.
No governor switch? Or no governor functionality? That would be a big one.
I’ve never flown a real one to be able to compare. The devs should send a copy over to https://youtube.com/@casmotv?si=dBfc7yKiZCW7JPZm
Look after yourself. I fully appreciate your position. I helped set my father up with a good VR system in MSFS, he can no longer fly in real life either due to health constraints.
I’m elated that flight sims have come so far on home PCs to really be able to give wings back to pilots that have lost them.
One video in a good series of ‘How To’ in the DCS OH-58 by a former Kiowa pilot. He covers most everything you would want to know.
The more I fly the new MSFS version the better it gets. Absolutely one of the best helicopters in MSFS.
Assigning hot keys to beep the rotor rpm up and down works for me on this helicopter.
Nice vid!
Are all these features in the MSFS version of the Kiowa?
Really? Ok I will try this. I assumed sinced the buttons on the collective are inop. this is not modelled. Thanks.
So far I find everything is working (save nothing on cyclic or collective) Still learning since no control bindings information. Still, this version is already a really nice aircraft. One of the best ‘feeling’ for me so far. A bit challenging but a great flyer once you get comfortable. All I’ve been flying in MSFS since it came out - but I mostly fly helicopters anyway.
Really? That is surprising!
Are the cameras working? The heading hold?
The camera is fixed to a forward position due to MSFS limitations.
Yep camera works on both MFDs - forward only as already said, heading hold and force trim (as it is on this bird) as well. Most all the PFD/MFD functions work as intended - don’t remember the couple of things not implemented.
One of the great touches is ability to use a grease pencil and being able to write anything on your windshield - notes, horizon point, arrows etc - and have it fixed on the windshield as you fly. Av Angel did a face giving her both fingers…
Could you go a little further into your controller setup and how the force trim is working?
I’m not a good one to do that - I use Spad.next with a VKB MCG Gunfighter w a 200mm extension. I have H145/H160 style force trim programmed into a simple script - hold to release trim, release to set new trim.